Birth Defects Attorneys Give Pre-Operative Cleft Palate Tips

Our birth defects attorneys would like to present some information about treatment of your child’s cleft palate before the performance of surgery to correct the issue. Often times, children with oral clefts and malformations will have breathing difficulties because a cleft palate can obstruct the airway. This is frightening, and in some very rare emergency cases, a tracheotomy is necessary. However, in most cases, when correct and adequate breathing is compromised, oxygen can be provided through tubes to the child. Additionally, because of the difficulty involved with sucking and swallowing, special feeding techniques will be necessary. Because this makes the acquisition of nutrients harder than usual, it his important to monitor the nutrition and hydration levels of children suffering from these facial birth defects.

In preparation for the surgery that will attempt to (and most often does) correct the cleft palate, a child may have to wear dental supports immediately after birth or within the first two to three weeks. The function of these supports, which are made from plastic or metal molds, is to reshape an infant’s tissues. Ultimately, the end goal is a surgical correction and these tips help make that possible.

Birth Defects Attorneys of New Jersey and Philadelphia

Many people who have a child with a cleft lip/palate ask themselves what caused it. More often than not, the answer to this question doesn’t have an exact answer. However, the FDA recently announced that the drug Topamax (topiramate) has been linked to an increase in the development of a cleft palate/lip. It is important to contact our experienced professionals now in order to protect your legal rights. Do not hesitate to contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation in New Jersey at (856) 833-0600, and in Philadelphia at (215) 567-2380.